Sole construction for shoes



Nov. 12, 1940.

alemana- A. GIRARDI 2,221,132

SOLE CONSTRUCTION FOR SHOES Filed Sept. 21, 1939 Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEElcE soLE CONSTRUCTION Foa snoEs Augusto Girardi, Indian Orchard, Mass. y Appiicatmn september 21, 1939, sgiai No. 295,968 2 claim (C1. 36133) This invention relates to lthe class of shoes or foot coverings and pertains particularly to improvements in sole construction.

The present invention has for its primary object to provide a novel and improved sole structure for shoes, sandals or the like, wherein the sole is made up of segments of material such as wood or the like, resiliently coupled or hinged together in a novel manner whereby the sole will break or ex in use without discomfort to the wearer and without gathering between the segments dirt, sand or other material which will in terfere with the return of the segments to `their normal edge to edge relation. l5 A fur-ther object of the invention is to provide a shoe or sandal shoe constructed of wood or similar material of substantial thickness and divided into` segments, in which a novel means is employed for hingedly coupling the segments together ln such manner that the segments will move relative to one Vanother` for the iiexing of Vthe sole without hurting or in any way irritating the foot of the wearer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sole construction of the character above described, in which novel means is employed for resilientlycoupling the sole egments together whereby they wil-l be d-rawn back to normal edge y to edge relation after Ithe sole has been flexed, the said means which couples the segments together also serving as a resilient tread for the soleY Y 'Ihe invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed descrip- 85 tion` taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part lof this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the d-rawing but may be 40 changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawingz.

45 Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a sandal having a sole constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in bottom plan of the sole. Fig. 3 is a section on the iine 3-3 of Fig. 2. 50 Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

AReferring now more particularly to the drawing, the shoe or sandal sole embodying the present invention is generally designated by the numeral i, the same being upwardly curved at the 55 instep to form the arch portion 2 which merges with the heel 3. This sole and heel unit is formed of a relatively thick material of-more or Iless rigid character such as wood or the like and, as shown, the entire unit may be cut or shaped from a single piece of material. The sole por- 5 tion of lthe unit is transversely out or divided at al number of points, as indicated at 4, to form a series .of segments 5, which in the normal condition of the sole lie in edge abutting relatio'n, as shown in Fig. 1. 10

'Ihe .top surface of the sole portion l of the unit is provided with the longitudinally extending recess 6 which covers the major portion of the surface, terminating short of the edges of the. sole. as shown by the dotted outline of the recess 15 in Fig. 2. In this recess there is placed a body of leather 1 which completely i'llls the recess and which is securely fastened as by tacks 8 or in any other suitable manner to the sole body so as to hingedly couple the segments 5 together. 20

The top surface .of the sole and heel unit is then entirely covered by a suitable insole 9 'which is preferably of a soft leather material such as chamois or Ithe like, this insole covering the entire width and length of the sole and heel unit. 25

s The body of the sole I is provided with a series of transverse passages I0 which extend through from edge to edge and which are bisected by the .planes of the abutting faces oi the segments 5.

Each of the passages, therefore, has one-half 30 formed in one sole segment and the opposite or corresponding haif formed in the opposed sole segment to form the complete passage. In addition each of the passages has leading thereinto from the bottom of the sole, the openings il which are preferably of elliptical form and have the long axes extending transversely of the sole, asshown in Fig. 2. Each of these elliptical openings likewise is divided on its ilong axis by the plane of the abutting faces of the two adjacent segments 5. I-t will, of course, be appreciated that the apertures l i may be of any other suitable form than the one illustrated although itis preferred that these apertures be elliptical as shown,

as by this means an opening of substantial width extending lengthwise of the adjacent passage can be obtained without cutting materially into the adjacent segments. `By the provision ofv these transverse passages i0 intersected by the openings I I, which open downwardly through the bottom of the sole, provision is made for the ready escape from between the abutting edges of the i segments of sand, dirt or other matter which may be picked up during the exing of the sole. In this way, the operation of the sole will not be interfered with by the packing of dirt between the opposing edges of the segments.

The bottom surface of the sole has secured thereto a substantially U-shaped tread I2 which borders the sole as shown, leaving the central portion ofthe sole exposed. 'I'his tread I2 extends from the toe to the instep portion of the sole and it is formed of rubber or rubber composition so as to provide a resilient or yieldable connection between the bottom surfaces of the segments 5.

The bottom face of the heel 3 likewise has secured thereto a U-shaped rubber tread I3 corresponding with the tread I2. This, however, merely functions as a tread and shock absorbing means for the shoe or sandal in view of the fact that the heel is not segmented as is the sole portion of the unit.

While the present sole and heel unit is designed primarily for a sandal, it will be readily appreciated that it may form a part of the structure of a shoe or boot, therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the specific showing which has been made. In the use of the unit in a sandal, the heel portion will be provided with the usual heel counter I4 formed of fabric or other suitable material which is secured directly to the edge of the heel body 3 and which is provided with a strap I5 and buckle I6 for securing the sandal to the foot. The sole portion of the sandal will be provided with a pair of crossed straps I1, each of which has its ends secured to opposite edges of the sole, certain of the ends of the straps or all thereof being coupled to the sole by means of detachable button and socket couplings. It is preferred when such couplings are employed that the buttons, which are indcated by the numeral I8, be carried by the ends of the straps I'I and that the sockets I9 be secured in the edge of the sole.

From the foregoing, it will be-readily apparent that a sandal or shoe sole constructed in accordance with the present invention provides a novel bottom unit for a sandal or shoe, particularly for sandals to be used on the beach in that it gives a construction which will support the foot at a substantial elevation from the surface of the ground, thus protecting the foot against `burning as when walking over hot sand or hot pavements. In addition, the novel construction provides for easy flexing of the sole and by the provision of the transverse passages I0 and bottom opening apertures II, the proper drawing together of the sole segments by the resilient coupling tread I2 is not interfered with by the accumulation of sand or dirt between the segments.

What is claimed is: l

1. In a bottom unit for sandals, shoes or boots, a body of relatively thick material formed to provide a shoe and heel portion, said sole portion being transversely divided to provide a plurality of individual segments, the opposing faces of the segments being in abutting relation, a flat body of exible material secured to the top of the sole body and forming a hinge connection between said segments, said sole body having a plurality of passages formed transversely therethrough from edge to edge and opening through said edges, said passages being spaced from the wear and the top surfaces of the segments, each of said passages being bisected longitudinally by the planes of the abutting faces of a pair of segments.

2. In a bottom unit for sandals, shoes or boots, a body of relatively .thick material formed to provide a sole and heel portion, said sole portion being transversely divided to provide a plurality of individual segments having their opposing faces in abutting relation, a fiat body of flexible material secured to the top of the sole body and forming a hinge connection between said segments, said sole body having a plurality of passages formed transversely therethrough from edge to edge and opening through said edges, said passages being spaced from the Wear and the top surfaces of the segments, each of said passages being bisected longitudinally by the planes of the abutting faces of a pair of segments, and said sole further having apertures formed therein from the bottom perpendicular to and opening into each of said passages and bisected by said planes.

AUGUSTO GIRARDI. 

